Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-02


the foreman Of graph)
the road machine shops, Mr. Anthony
Murphy, sat down to the breakfast table
not far apart Before they had tasted
mouthful, however, the sound OF escaping
steam, the loud whir of the wheels on
the track and the cutlery that rose In a
moment from guards and camp, brought
them and all the breakfasters to their
feet. BY this time the locomotive had
started, and Fuller and Murphy, with
loud ordinations about the robbery Of
the train, rushed pell nell with every
body else ont on the platform, the
passengers who had been uncoupled and
left on the road not being behind others
in their complaints and uproar. The
whole camp also was in turmoil. A
single glance around showed Fuller that
there was no chance for help there: and
being n man OF quick thought his mind
fastened on an idea-utterly wrong as it
proved-but which had the merit Of put
ting him vigorously to work The near
est guard declared that only four men
were engaged in the capture-he had only
seen those that mounted the engine-and
others Corroborated him. Fuller remem-
bered the conscripts he had been warned
to watch for, and at once the thought
flashed across his mind, Some of those
men, one Of whom happened to know
enough OF an engine to pull open the
throttle, have jumped on my train 10 get
out of camp, and as soon as they are out
side they will leave the engine and run
into the mountains. | must follow as
fast rs possible and try to get it back be-
fore get very badly out of time.
The presence of Mr.. Anthony Murphy
that morning was purely accidental He
was going to examine an engine at ALA
toona reported ont Of order AS an officer
of high authority on the road, command
ing all engineers and firemen, knowing all
the engines and everything about the road
perfectly, his presence at that time was
most unfortunate for us. He was a man
of great GOODNESS and good judgment. His
first action was far sighted. He sent Mr..
William kendrick on horseback to Mari
eta to notify the superintendent at At
lanta by wire. Mr.. Kendrick arrived in
time to hold a freight train there till
orders were flashed back to drop all cars
but one, run up to Big Shanty, load on
soldiers and pursue with all speed This
was the first train in chase message
was also sent from Marietta to Richmond,
but no result followed that My opinion
is that Andrews had in some way ar
ranged for cutting the wire between Chat
tauooga and Knoxville. which was the
only route by which the message could
have gone around and got on the line of
the Western and Atlantic railroad ahead
of us.
Had these been the only measures of
pursuit-wise and judicious as they were
our task would have been easy. But
Fuller's error and his ardent tempera-
ment prompted to another course He
had called Murphy and Cain, Come on
with me- they promptly followed and
the three of them started at a dead run up
the track. The spectacle of three men
running vigorously after a flying engine
as il they expected to catch it, instantly
restored the mob to good humor, and
they cheered and shouted with laughteri
What would have been the fate Of these
runners if they had overtaken us at the
first stop where we cut wire and OBJ
structed the track, 1t Is needless to in
quire They would have hardly begun
such a chase had they not entirely under
estimated our number, as well as mis-
taken our purpose. The Atlanta Southern
Confederacy of the next day, in an article
full of panic, written before the issue was
determined, speaks of US as "some four
men yet unknown"
The different running powers OF the
pursuers were soon made evident in this
apparently hopeless chase. Fuller was
extraordinarily fleet and Of great endur-
auce. His companions We're equally
jealous but less able for running They
were, therefore, soon spread out for a
considerable distance. While putting in
his best efforts. Fuller shouted back en-
couragcment 10 his comrades, but did not
wait. The hope of getting his train soon
CIR ard hn also fparnI baf
the reckless men who had taken it might
do some injury to the engine before he
could come up. The idea that they might
offer any resistance did not enter his
mind
But the chase could not long have con
tinued in this manner, for human muscles
cannot be ptted successfully against
steam, The labored breath and the de
creasing pace of the runners showed that
they Were well nigh exhausted; and as
curve after curve was rounded-for with
the instinct of railroad men they chung to
the track-they grew discouraged: but
just before their second wind" was ex-
hsusted, they received both help and re-
newed excitement. They came to Moons
station, some two miles from the place of
starting, and have never been able tomake
even a plausible conjecture of the time
NRA>hHitN ia THIS ufst stAke Oh the 1OQr-
ney; but il is certain that it was just as
little as straining muscles and iron could
we'll make it,
Here they learned from the track laying
party that some of their tools had been
borrowed" and short distance beyond
some ties placed on the track and the
telegraph cut. This was our first halt,
and the track had been INSTRUCTED that
train coming from Atlanta might be hin
dcred. The pursuers here found a hand
car-not one of the elaborate machine
cars, which may be driven at great speed,
but what Fuller termed pole car It
WAS at once pressed into service and gave
welcome rest. Fuller ran it back lit
| tie way and picked up his companions.
who were behind, then drove forward as
fast as the construction OF the car would
permit Pushing with long pole in Cat
peat fashion, quite rapid time could be
mace on the level and on down grades,
whiie on the steep up grades two would
Jump off and push at full run.
AT Aekworth they got reinforcement